The Puja and a fair that began yesterday will continue ten days.

Shibchaturdashi (religious festival) is observed at the temples amid great festivity and grandeur.

Colourful Shibchaturdashi Mela (fair) is held centering the temples where, apart devotees, thousands of people irrespective of religion also throng.

Thousands of devotees from home and abroad have poured into the huge fair premises on the Adinath Hill.

Pilgrims of different ages climb the long stairs having 69 steps that lead to Adinath Mandir (temple), some 288 feet above the sea level.

Devotees from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Malaysia also gather at the Adinath Mandir, which they believe to be one of the most sacred places for them.

They also believe that until a visit to Adinath Mandir, at least once in life, all their homage to Shib or Mohadev and pilgrimage remains incomplete.

A temple committee takes care of the Mandir.

Devotees believe that the temples located within an area of 217 acres also have many evidences of Ravana abducting Shib to Lanka. On way, Ravana halted only on the Adinath hills.

Apart from Hindu devotees, hundreds of Rakhaine community people came to the fair.

Advocate Shukhamoy, a devotee, said other than three temples in Sitakunda, only the Adhinath Mandir possesses the original statue of Shib that appeared there with the help of divine power.